The Portland daily press., 1887-08-24
BJoRNsoN AT HOME.
The Partisan Residence Of tho Great
Poet Of the North.

An interesting visit was upon Bjorn
Bjornson, the Norwegian poet, who has
Partisan house, where he spends his winters,
says L. w. Bushey. staff correspondent of
the Chicago r-0cean, writing from Paris.
He still fingers in the city, where his study
window overlooks a beautiful little park
with wilderness Of shrubbery, and the far
ther distance presents view Of the Arc de
Triomphe, and the Bois de Bologne beyond
The fine physique and the massive head Of
the poet give lin an impressive presence
even when his face is turned away, but
when his strong features are presented he Is
a study for the artist seeking a model for
the heroic. Mr.. BjornsOn speaks English
and French very well, but he writes only In
his native language He says he cannot ex-
press himself in any other He remembered
his visit TO Chicago seven years ago, end says
that he again expects to visit America and
the Northwest, where there are so many Of
his c0untrymen, in few years. There Is no
country for which he expresses so warm a
feeling as America. He regards America
this time. All other nations are struggling
TO hold their own, but these two great pow
ers are rapidly growing, the latter in way
to threaten the peace OF all Europe. Rus
STA is the great danger to Europe" She Is
threatening the whole world in her growth,
and were an American 1 should encourage
my country to unite with western Europe
against Russia. 1t will not do for strong,
growing power like America to encourage
such dangerous rival as the strongest gov
ernment Of the old world promises TO become.
Your country can not afford to do this. Let
Russia dominate Europe and Asia and she
will threaten America"
But Russia was the best friend of the
Union in our late Civil War. and the United
States cannot afford to allow any nation to
be her creditor for such service and friend
ship"
call long-headed; The Car knew where to
place his friendship. He and his council
soon had the opportunity to place the United
States in Russia's debt, and they did it,
They were looking to the future. They
were far-sighted when they gave sympathy
and aid to the Union. They saw that the
Union must be preserved, that the North
would conquer, and they gave their friend
ship to the victor. But Russia Is the great
danger, and America should not allow her
gratitude for past services to stand in the
way Of her judgment, and encourage such a
danger tothe civilization OF the whole world" I"
"Do you think the danger to your own
country as greater than the rest Of Europe ?"
mo. Russia does not care so much for
Norway and Sweden. She can not afford to
take possession OF the peninsula, with its
long seaboard, at present.
She would have to concentrate hundred
thousand men there to protect it. The cost
is too great Russia will not disturb my
own country in the immediate future. III she
wishes to send her fleet to the Atlantic she
can do so by the north, where the sea Is open
the greater part of the year, and not expose
herself to the danger Of long coast line for
England, France and Germany to attack
Russia is best protected from the powers by
The present geographical lines in Europe.
Norway and Sweden are protection with
out being menace"
When the old poet becomes excited his
search for words in the English language to
express his ideas and impressiyeness to his
speech rather than awkwardness or ambig-
uity His face is a study in its earnestness,
ana his manner adds emphasis to the Ian
guage he uses. He chatted pleasantly of
| other affairs and acknowledged that he had
| no good reason for making Paris his home a
part Of the year, except its beauty. The